Current Affairs Daily Digest – July 1 2019
1. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins Austrian Grand Prix
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who registered his best finish in a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas finished third in the race. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who is leading the championship table, finished fifth while former world champion Sebastian Vettel was at the fourth place.
2. Money in Swiss banks: India ranked 74
India has moved down one place to 74th rank in terms of money parked by its citizens and enterprises with Swiss banks, while the U.K. has retained its top position, as per data released by the central banking authority of the Alpine nation.
India was ranked 73rd last year, after jumping from its 88th rank a year ago.
3. GST Day | July 1
Kicking off celebration to mark two years of the GST implementation, the finance ministry will on July 1 come up with further reforms in the indirect tax system with introduction of new return system, rationalisation of cash ledger system and a single refund-disbursing mechanism, among others.
Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Thakur will preside over the event alongside key secretaries and officials of various departments, the finance ministry said in a release on June 30.
The introduction of GST was a game changer for the Indian economy as it has replaced multi-layered, complex indirect tax structure with a simple, transparent and technology-driven tax regime, it said.
4. International Day of Parliamentarism | June 30
June 30 is the day designated to celebrate the International Day of Parliamentarism. It is also the date, in 1889, on which the Inter-Parliamentary Union — the global organization of parliaments — was established.
This Day celebrates parliaments and the ways in which parliamentary systems of government improve the day-to-day lives of people the world over. It is also an opportunity for parliaments to take stock, identify challenges, and ways to address them effectively.
5. Aparna Kumar created history by becoming the first civil servant and IPS officer to achieve the 7 Summits challenge
Aparna Kumar created history by becoming the first civil servant and IPS officer to achieve the incredible and rare feat of completing ‘7 Summits’ challenge’. Kumar hoisted India’s tricolour on Mount Denali in Alaska, USA. Mount Denali is the highest peak of North America standing at 20,310 ft. She scaled the summit in her third attempt.
6. Sir Mark Tully was conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 at UK-India Awards in London
Sir Mark Tully was conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 at UK-India Awards in London. Veteran British journalist Sir Mark Tully was conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 at UK-India Awards in London. The award celebrate special talents and organisations who use their worldwide influence to strengthen UK-India ties.
Sir William Mark Tully:
Sir William Mark Tully, KBE is the former Bureau Chief of the BBC, New Delhi. He worked with the BBC for a period of 30 years before resigning in July 1994.
7. India has signed Rs.200 crore deal with Russia to acquire Strum Ataka
India has signed Rs.200 crore deal with Russia to acquire Strum Ataka. India has signed Rs.200 crore deal with Russia to acquire Strum Ataka. The anti-tank missile will be added to the fleet of Mi-35 attack choppers of Indian Air Force (IAF).
This deal comes in wake of an IAF’s attempt to keep itself battle-ready in situations like post-Balakot aerial strikes. The Strum Ataka anti-tank missile would give an added capability to Mi-35 attack choppers of IAF to take out enemy tanks and other armoured elements.
8. NALCO to get President’s award for excellent CSR in social development
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), an Odisha-based Navaratna Company has been selected for President’s award for utilisation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund in social development. NALCO was selected for its Aliali Jhia Scheme.
About Aliali Jhia In 2015 NALCO started a scheme called Aliali Jhia. The scheme was on the line of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao to adapt and promote the poor and talented girls for education.
9. ISALEX19: ISAs joint security exercise begins
Abu Dhabi, capital of United Area Emirates (UAE) is hosting International Security Alliance (ISAs) first joint security exercise named ISALEX19.
About ISALEX19 Activity Undertaken:
It will simulate a real-life security threat in a virtual context, to test readiness of different teams and to evaluate strategies, procedures and tools developed jointly between member countries since formation of Alliance in 2017.
10. National Doctors’ Day is celebrated on July 1
In India the National Doctors’ Day is celebrated on July 1 all across India to honour the legendary physician and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. He was born on July 1, 1882 and died on the same date in 1962, aged 80 years. Dr Roy was honoured with the country’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna on February 4, 1961.
The celebration of the Doctors’ Day is an attempt to emphasise on the value of doctors in our lives and to offer them our respects by commemorating one of their greatest representatives.
11. NS Vishwanathan reappointed as Deputy Governor of RBI for 1 year
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the reappointment of NS Vishwanathan as Deputy Governor of RBI for a period of one year from July 4, 2019. NS Vishwanathan’s term as Deputy Governor was supposed to end on July 3, 2019. Earlier, RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya resigned citing personal circumstances.
12. Spain beat Germany 2-1 to claim Euro Under-21 title
Spain claimed the Under-21 European Championship title after beating Germany 2-1 in Italy on Sunday. The Spaniards have now equalled hosts Italy’s record of five Under-21 European Championship titles. The Spaniards had suffered a 1-0 defeat by the Germans in the 2017 edition’s final. For Spain, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo were on target.
